Attorney General Edmondson has always turned his back on corruption involving public officials even when the corruption is well publicized. Any involvement only comes in the last stages when others have investigated and established a case. Edmondson then steps in to grab headlines, spending more time on press announcements than legal actions.

That was until his name started surfacing in multiple campaign fund violations. First, in connection with the FBI investigation of Gene Stipe and Gang, straw donor affair. Second, Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan's campaign. All coming in a short time the spring of 2007.

Sensing the heat of exposure, Edmondson suddenly became highly visible in illegal campaign funding cases. Within a matter of days the Edmondson took control of the OSBI's county commissioner campaign investigation to call a news conference as a platform to publicly proclaim "We have proceeded against political corruption, regardless of party."

Note: The Owl has no quarrel with the investigation and charges. Rather the timing of the announcement, suggest misuse of the case for political gain. Something that if rushed, could jeopardize the case.

Then within the next 3 days taking advantage of the professional courtesies that come with the office Attorney General, Mr. Edmondson, imposed himself on a visit to the US Attorney handling the investigation of the Gene Stipe and Gang's litany of crimes. Since this investigation was covering the straw donor campaign which the AG and political allies have been connected, this was an obvious breech of professionalism and ethics. A breech the AG tried to disguise by claiming his intent was to offer his services to the assist in the investigation. In investigating an area of illegal activity he has previously totally ignored. See Oklahoma Attorney General tries horning in on federal case.
[Ref A128]

An act so obvious any reasonable person aware of the situation would view as a violation of ethical behavior. Further pointing to an act of desperation since the state Ethics Commission was already looking at yet another campaign fund violation, involving Mr. Edmondson, and state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan.

In addition Mr. Edmondson's donation, Mr. McMahan is tied into the Gene Stipe Straw Donor investigation. The web of corruption has many paths crossing back and forth through same people more than once.

Everything points to the following motivates being the real reason behind the visit.

• Hopefully pickup some hints from the Feds on what the FBI might know, were they were headed, and any names that might be floating around.
• Spin the visit into a claim of aggressive efforts toward illegal campaign contributions.

The AG's ill advised timing in trying to fool the people into thinking he was closing the barn door after, when everyone knew, the horses were long gone. Demonstrating once more the AG's only interest is protecting his own image. With a poorly written play. The timing and the flimsiness of the acts show a desperate official, further illustrating the ever too often occurrences of flawed judgment and general ineptness.

In the mold of Barney Fife.